Feed-water heater



(No Model.)

G. I. KNOX.

FEED WATER HEATER.

No. 419,530. Patented Jan. 14, 1890.

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To all whom t may concern.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v ,A

GEORGE FQ KNOX, O F SAAT ANTONIO, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONF- HALF 'r EDWARDF. I-IOPPF, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FEED-WATER HEATER.

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 419,530, datedJanuary 14, 1890.

Application fled April 4, 1889. Serial No. 305,917.' (No model.)

Be it known that '.I, GEORGE F. KNOX, of San Antonio, in the county ofBexar and State of Texas, ha've invented@ certain new and user fulImprovement in Combined Feed-Vater Heaters, Filters, and LimeExtractors, of which the following is a full, clear, and enactdescription, reference being had tothe accompanyin g drawings, formingpart of this speciication.

This invention relates to devices for the combined simultaneous heatingand purifying of feed-water for engines, duc.; and the inventionconsists in features of novelty, hereinafter fully described, andpointed out in the claims. l

Figure I is an elevation of the apparatus, in which the feed-water isheated and purified at the same time, with part Abroken away to show theinterior of the apparatus. Fig. II is a vertical sectionof the same, andshows thesupply-pipe which discharges water into the surmounting tank,the means for discharge of said Water from said tank onto thealternating scatterplates from which the spray descends to the hotvwell, the inlet-pipe for the product. of the steam-exhaust from theengine to heat the spray, the hot Well', and the filter that purifiesthe feed-water, &c. Fig. III

is a top view of the apparatus, andshows the positions of thesupply-pipe, the dischargepipe that delivers theheated and purifiedfeed-water to the'boilerfor other destination, as the case may be, andthe exhaust-pipes through which escapes the exhaust-steam from theapparatus. Fig. IV is a horizontal section taken on line IV IV, Fig. Il,'and shows the top plate of the filter, through perforations in whichthe heated purified water l .are tightly clamped together and held by isdischarged into the sui-mounting dome preparatory to its entrance intothe dischargepipe that carries it to its destination. Fig. V is ahorizontal section taken on line V V, Fig. II, and shows the circularplate that forms the bot-tom of the supply-tank, which plate also formsthe top of the annular heatingchamber. Fig. VI is a horizontal sectiontaken on line VI VI, Fig.` I, and eshows the hinged coupling of thevertical flanges of the sections at one side of the sectional cylinderand supply-water tank,which hinges, after theclamping-boltsarereinoved,providethemeans for unfolding the sections ofsaid cylinder and of the supply-water tank and the consequent Opening upof the apparatus for cleaning the same.

Referring to the drawings, l represents the hot-well tank or basin,which is preferably of cast-iron cast in one piece, and is Vsurniountedby a peripheral flange 2 at top, and rests Onsupporting-legs 3, that aresecured to it by screw-bolts 4i or by any other suitable means. Y

5 5 represent the sections of the cylinder or outer shell 5fL of theannular heating-chamber 6. These two sections of the cylinder 5 (whichare preferably of sheet metal, but may be of cast metal) surmount andrest on the upper edge or brim of the hot well, tank, or basin l, towhich they are secured by sec- ,tional circle angle-irons 7, that areseated around the base of the cylinder 5a, to which they are fastened byrivets 8, that pass through perforations 9 in said angle-irons andthrough the shell of the cylinder, and are riveted thereto; andscrew-bolts 10 are seated in and pass through perforationsll in theperipheral flange 2 of the hot-well basin, and through the lower flangeof the circle angle-iron 7, and thus the sections of the cylinder 5 aresecured to said angle-iron and by it to the hot-well basin. the cylinderare also provided with vertical union flanges 12, which arecoupledtogether at one side of the column 'by hinges 13, the sections of whichhinges are themselves coupled by the drop-pins 14. The inner flanges l2,both on the side of the cylinder that is hinged and on the reverse sidealso,

the screw-bolts 1 5, which at certain intervals pass through theperforations 1G in said union flanges, and where t-he hinges supervenesimilar screw-bolts, sufficiently elongated, pass through registeringperforations in said hinges, as also through those in the union flanges,SO as all along t-he junctionline to effect water and steam tightjoints.

17 represents a central cylindrical shell, that rises vertically fromthe center of the The two sections ofv IOO bottom of the hot-Well basinupward within the cylinder 5, and which central shell is filled withcharcoal 18 or other filtrant. A circle angle-iron 19 embraces the baseof said central shell, to which it is secured by rivets 20.

21 represents a semi-globular Water tank or basin, which is secured tothe bottom of the hot-well basin, from which it hangs pendent, and tothe lower flange of the angle-iron 19 by screw-bolts 22, that passthrough perforations 23 in the peripheral flanges 24 of the basin 21 andthrough the said bottom of the hot-Well basin and said angle-iron.

25 represents a circular perforated plate, which forms a cover for thebasin 21, and intervenes between the same and the filtrant in thefilter-chamber above it.

26 represents a perforated plate that surmountsthe central shell, whichincloses the filter-chamber, and which itself is sui-mounted by asemi-globular dome 27, which receives the hot purified feed-water fromthe filter and delivers it to the discharge-pipe 28, which carries it tothe boiler or other destination.

The threaded end of said discharge-pipe is` surmounts the cylinder 5land surrounds the shell ofthe filtering-chamber. The said plate sits onand projects peripherally from the top of the said cylinder 5, and isitself surmounted by the vertical sections 36 36 of the cylindricalwater-supply tank or basin 56, to which the ring-plate 35 forms thebottom, and which bottom is provided with pertorations 37, through whichthe feed-water gradually percolates into the annular heating-chamber tobe operated on. The sections 36 36 of the cylindrc water-suppl y tankareprovided with vertical union flanges 38 at their junctionline,whichare on line with the similar union flanges of the sections 5 5 of thecylinder 5, that surrounds the annular heating-chamber, and on one sidethe flanges are coupled together by a hinge vertically directly over thehinges already described, that couple said sections 5 5. sections of thecylindric water-tank is a counterpart of those that connect thecylindric sections 5 5 beneath, as shown in Fig. VI, and is alikenumbered and so need not be again here described.

Screw-bolts 39 engage in perforations`40in the union flange 38 of thewater-tank and tightly enforce the connection to produce water-tightjoints on cach side of the tank, and a similar screw-bolt, butsuil'iciently that embrace the top of the sections 5 of the cylinder 5,as also duplicates thereof, both the base and top of the sections 36 ofthe cylindrical Water-tank. These angle-iron sections, as do those atthe base of the sections 5, are so placed that their junction endsregister wit-l1 the junction edges of the semicylinders that theyembrace. The circle angle-irons 41 are secured to the cylindricalsections they embrace by rivets 42, which pass through perforations 43in the vertical flanges of the angle-irons and the sectional cylinders.

44 represents the circular top -pl'ate that covers the supply-water tankand surmounts the whole cylinder 5.

Thehorizontal flanges of the sectional circle angle-irons 41, thatembrace and are riveted, as stated, to the top of the sections 36 of thewater-tank, are secured to the said top plate by screw-bolts 45, whichpass through perforations 46 in said angle-irons and said top plate andare screwed down, so as to secure a tight joint.

Similar screw-bolts 47 pass, respectively, through perforations 48 inthe horizontal flanges of the union angle-irons 41, that embrace and areriveted to the top of the cylinder 5, and through those sections thatare riveted to the base of the sections 36 l of the cylindrical tank,and also through the intervening ring-plate 35, that separates theannular' heating-chamber from the watertank, and the screw-nuts of saidbolts being f screwed down tight a water and steam tight joint iseffected thereby.

The discharge-pipe 28, that rises from the apex of the semi-globl ulardome 27, passes through a hole 49 in the 4;center of the top plate 44and through the angle-flange collar 50, which is secured to said topplate by rivets 82. Three exhauststeam pipes 51, whose threaded lowerends have a steam-tight engagement in the screwthreaded perforations 52in the ring-plate 35,

`ascend through perforations 53 in the top plate 44 and through theangle-flange collars 54. These pipes carry off the exhaust-steam i afterit has been fully utilized, and act also as lbloW-off pipes tofacilitate the ascent ofthe steam through the annularheating-chamber.The hinge that connects the 55 represents the supply-pipe, whichreceives the feed-water from the hydrant `or any other convenient andsuitable supply,

" and delivers it into the cylindrical watersupply tank 56. The saidsupply-pipe enters the said tank through the angle-flange collar 57 andthe perforation 58 in the top plate of the tank, and union elbow-jointpipes 59 connect the sections 55 of the water-supply pipe.

60 represents scatter-plates, that are secured by rivets to brackets 61,which by the same IOO IIO

IIS

419,53o f s means are secured in alternate succession to the centralcylindrical shell 17 and to the sectional cylinder 5n in the annular'heatingchamber 6.

62 represents the exhaust-steam pipe from an engine or other deviceusing steam, the Iianged collar 63 on the front end of which pipe issecured to the projecting boss-collar 64, that surrounds the open port65, that passes through one of the sections 5 near its base, and issecured to said cylinder by the screw bolts 66, which pass through saidanged collar, through the packing-ring 67, of rubber or other suitablematerial, that intervenes between the flange-collar and bosscollar, sothat when said bolts are 'screwed home a steam-tight joint is'effected.

68 representsthe suction-pipe to the boilerfeed pump, thescrew-threadedend Vof which pipe is ti ghtseated within the screw-threadedcollar-flanged opening 69, that enters the hot Well near its base, and70 is the return forcepipe from the boiler-feed pump, the screwthreadedend of which has Aa steam-tight screw-seat within the collar-hangedopening 7l into the semi-globular tank 2l, beneath the centralfilter-chamber.

7 2 represents the blow-oit pipe, whose screwthreaded upper end issteam-tight, seated within the screw-fianged collar 73 at the bottoln ofthe semi-globnlar tank or basin 2l,

and 74 is a globe-cock which is adjustable" Within said pipe to provide,respectively, an open or closed port, as is differentially re'- quiredwhen blowing oft', iiushinggror otherwise. This blow-off pipe, which isused when cleansing the heater, discharges into the sewer or any othersuitable drainage.

I will now describe the automatic device by which the supply offeed-water is made self-adjusting and dependenton the exhaustV of thewater in the hot Well. 75 represents a cut-od valve of usualconstruction that works within the valve joint-pipe 8l, which joint-pipe connects two sections of the watersupply pipe 55. Theoperating-rod 7 6, that carries and actuates said valve, passeshorizontally through the steamt'ight packing-box 77 and is rigidlyattached'to' the crank-arm 7 S, from which hangs pivoted the pendent rod79, to which is attached the buoyant ball 80, that floats on the surfaceof the water in the hot-Well basin. As the Water subsides in said hotwell, the lowering of its surface carries with it the buoyant ball80,'that floats thereon, which, by its pendent connecting? rod 7 9,turnsthe crank-arin7 S, the operatingrod 77, and the cut-off valve 75, bywhich the port in said valve is brough-t nearer into coincidence vwiththe tube-opening` of the supply-pipe, so as to increase the supply offeedwater. It will thus be seen that the lower the surface of the waterfalls in the hot well the nearer will the open ports of said valve bebrought to register Wit-h the tube-open in gs' of the supply-pipe, andalso, Vvice vversa,whe n the supply exceeds the demand and the water inthe hot well in consequence'rises the valveports are thereby turned in'the reverse direction to any degree required, even', if need be, beforethe Water rises sufficiently to flood the steam-port 65 to constitutethe valve a complete cut-off until the subsidence of the water in thehot Well. lVhile I prefer to use said ball-and-valve device toautomatically regulate the supply of feed-water to the apparatus, yetwhen desired a common globe-V valve similar to the one shown anddescribed in the blow-off pipe, and which is then actuated by the vhandof the operator, may be substituted in the place of said automatic 3device. S3 represents the glass water-gage that indicates the height ofthe Water in the hot Well, so that the operator may observe if thenecessary supply of feed-Water is cutshort from any cause. 84 representsthe hand-hole in the side of the hot-Well basin, to give access tothesame for cleansing it of scale and deposits of mud, lime, duc. j Theshutter-plate 84, that (when the apparatus is in operation) closes thehand-port, is retained to its seat, so as to preserve a water-tightjoint, by the screw-bolt 86, which passes through the concavo-conveXplate 87, and Whose screw threaded end engages in said shutter-plate andbrings it tightly home toits seat.- 88 represents a globe valve or cockin the Watersupply pipe 55,which vis used as a cut-od when itisdesired'to shut down the operation of the apparatus, and it may'also beused'to regulate the supply of feed-water when it is not desired to usethe floating ball-valve. 'The supply-pipe may either take thewaterdirect from the hydrant or any other Water-supply that has sufficienthead to deliver into the IOO supply-tank 56 at the summit of the appa-lratus, or the water may, when circumstances make i-t desirable, betransferred from a prefI paratory feed-water heater, for `the inventionis applicable in either case. i

The operation of the apparatus is as fol-v lows: The feed-water entersthrough the supply-pipe 55 into the supply-tank I56, from which itpercolates at the speed required, as indicated by the straight arrows,through the perforations 37 in the circular ring-plate 35,Y which formsthe bottom of the supply-tank and the top of the annularheating-chamber. The "water as it thus. percolates into saidheating-chamber drips onto the succession of scatter-plates 60, thatare, as shown in Figs.l I and II, respectively, alternately projectedoutwardly from the central cylindrical shell 17, that incloses thefilter, and inwardly from the sections 5 5 of the cylinder 5, formingthe outerwall of the annular heating-chamber 7. The Water drops andsplashes from one scatter-plate to another in its descent from thesupply-Water tank at the summit of the apparatus to the hot well at itsbase, dashing alternately outward'and inward in a fine spray fromscatter-plate to scatter-plate A At the same time the hot steam,provided by an engine exhaust-steam-pipe 62, enters through the openport G5, near the base of the cylinder 5, and as it ascends, asindicated by curved arrows within said' heating-chamber, it comes incontact with the descending feedwater,which, being separated into a finespray as it dashes from plate to plate, is quickly heated by theascending steam. During the utilization interchange of temperaturebetween the ascending steam and descending spray, a large portion of thelime, sulphur, dirt, and other impurities that are contaminating thefeed-water is deposited on the scatter-plates. By the time the water hasreached near the base of the heating-chamber it has come to be in ahighly-heated condition. Vhen on a line with the open steamport itencounters the superheated steam on its first entrance within thechamber, and while experiencing the still further sudden increase intemperature thereby engendered, the remainder of the lime, sulphur, andother impurities still left in the water is precipitated to the bottomof the hot well. The water is drawn from the hot well by any suitableengine-pump that is not subservient to the adverse movement of the steamthat evaporates from the water, and said water, passing through thesuction-pipe G8, is forced, iria the return-pipe 70, into thesemi-globular tank or basin 25, and through the filtrant within thecentral shell, from which the pressure discharges it through theperforated plate 26 into the semi-globular dome 27, and finally throughthe discharge-pipe 28 to the boiler, when used for feed-water, or whenthe apparatus is used for purifying purposes, as in breweries, bakeries,hotels, the., to their clearwater tank or reservoir. There is anespecial advantage in the water increasing in temperature as it passesdownward, the steam at the same time rising upward and at the watershighest temperature meeting the steam when hottest, thereby causing theremnants of lime, sulphur, or any other impurities therein to beprecipitated or extracted, or should there in some cases be a very smallamount of said impurities left, the filter is abundantly able to cleanseout the last vestige thereof and furnish to the boiler or reservoir, asthe case may be, perfectly-pure feedwater. When it is desired to blow01T or fiush the apparatus to cleanse it, when the globe valve or cockin the blow-off pipe is turned to register its open port in line withthe tubeopening of the pipe the cleansing is usually easily effected,the supply-water being turned on and the pump being operated at the sametime. Vhen, however, the scale and deposit in the hot well are soextensive that it is desired otherwise, to remove them, the hand-holeplate is removed, as stated, and easy access is thus had thereto. lVhenit is desired to open up thc cylinder 5, or the cylindric water-tank,the clamping and connecting screw-bolts are removed from the flangededges of their section -plates and from the angle-irons and hinges, whenthe sections can be easily opened out on their hinges, so as to removethc scale from the scatter-plates, 8vo., and to clean up the heater andtank, also, when required. It is very seldom required, however, to openup the water-supply tank 5G, and it will be seen that when half of thebolts that connect the said tank with the cylinder 5n are removed, thelatter isfreeto be opened out on its hingeswithout disturbing or openingthe tank. Should it be desired to take the sections of the cylinderscompletely apart, the drop-pins 14 can bc drawn out of the hinges 1 3,and thus the hinges and the sections they carry are uncoupled.

Some of the advantages of this feed-water heater and purifier are: Itobviates the necessity of putt-ing any back-pressure on the engine;heats the water by actual test to 210o and 212 Fahrenheit; extracts alllime, sulphur, mud, and other impurities from the water, and keeps theboilers free from scale or deposit; also, the simple construction of theheater and the facility of removal of the scale and deposit afforded bythe sectional construction of the outer shell of the apparatus providethe means for opening up the same when cleaning.

I have shown and described a sufficient number of clamping-bolts alongthc vertical` lianged edges 12 of the sections 5 to enforce a tightjoint along the flanges; but, if desired, a large proportion of saidbolt-s may be dispensed with by providing vertical re-enforce clampingiron bars on each side of the flanges, through perforations in whichbars, registering with others in the flanges, screw-bolts are secured.It is evident that when the nuts on said bolts are screwed home tightthe stiffness of the clamping-bars pressing against the fianges willpreclude the necessity of using as many bolts.

It will be seen that as no part of the apparatus is subjected to dryheat, the scale and deposit are generally sufficiently soft and free,when the valve in the blow-olf pipe is opened, for the steam in blowingoff or the water in flushing to thoroughly cleanse the apparatus.` Thensteamy when blowing off may be furnished by the engine that providessteam to the exhaust-steam pipe 12 by connecting, if desired, with thepipes 2S and 51 at the top of the apparatus, when it is desired that theblow-off shall be direct from top to bottom.

In conclusion, I call attention to the fact that there are no coils orother secretive parts in the apparatus, but when opened up for cleaningall parts are readily accessible to both the eye and the hand.

I claim as my inventioni 1. In a feed-water heater and purifier, thecombination of the cylinder forming the heating-chamber, thescatter-plates within said cylinder that spray the water in its descent,the surmounting supply-tank with a perfo- IOO IIO

rated bottom Tabo've said heating-chamber, and the exhaust-steam-pipethat supplies the exhaust-steam from an engine to said heating-chamberarranged to heat the Water and facilitate the deposit of impurities onthe scatter-plates, &c., substantially as described, and for the purposeset forth.

2. In a feed-Water heater and purifier, the combination of thesupply-pipe, the sectional cylinder forming the heating-chamber, thescatter-plates in said chamber, the supplytank above said chamber fromwhich the Water percolates on said scatter-plates, and the exhauststeampipe that discharges steam through the open port that enters near thebase of said chamber for heating the Water, substantially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

In a feed-Water heater and purifier, the combination of the supply-pipe,the supplytank into which said pipe discharges, the said tank having' aperforated bottom through which the Water percolates, thevertically-divided cylinder forming the annular heatingchamber, thescatter-plates alternatingly locatedlin diverse directions in saidchamber, the said plates arranged to spray the Water while heating as itfalls from plate to plate, and the exhaust-steam pipe that dischargesthrough an open port near the base of said annular heating-chamber,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a feed-Water heater and purifier, the combination of thesupply-pipe, the supplytank 55, the cylindric flanged plates 5, formingthe annular heating-chamber, the screwbolts that couple said iiangestogether, the perforated ring-plate 35, that forms the top to saidheating-chamber and the bottoni to said supply-tank, the cylindrical shell 17, that surrounds the filtrant-chamber, the scatterplates Withinthe heating-chamber, which alternately project from the innercylindrical shell and from the outer cylindrical plates, and thehot-well tank or basin 21, on which said cylindric plates 5 rest,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a feed-Water heater and purifier, the combination of theWater-supply tank provided With a perforated bottom through which theWater percolates, the top plat-e 44 of said supply-tank, the cylindricflanged plates forming the heating-chamber, the hinges that couple saidfianges on one side of the apparatus, and the screw-bolts that clamp theflanges together on both sides of the apparatus to effect a water andsteam tight joint, the hot-Well tank or basin, the angleirons with theirconnecting-rivets and clamping screw-bolts that respectively connectsaid hot-Well tank to the cylindric plates'and the summit of said platesto the supply-tank, also the rim of said tank to its top plate,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a feed-Water heater and purifier, the

combination of the supply-pipe, the supplytank provided with aperforated bottom through which the Water percolates, the sectionalfiange forming the heating-chamber, the hot-Well tank or basin, theautomaticallyoperated-floating ball-cock that regulates theWater-supply, and the exhaust-steam pipe that furnishes the steam thatheats the Water, the said steam-pipe discharging through the open portnear the base of the heating-chamber, substantially as described, andfor the purpose set forth.

7. In a feed-Water heater'and purifier, the combination of thesupply-tank provided with a perforated bottom through Which the Waterpercolates, the sectional cylinder 5, forming the heating-chamber, thecylindrical shell17, lthat incloses the filter-chamber, which filter isprovided with charcoal. or other suitable filtrant, the scatter-platesarranged Within the heating-chamber so as to respectively alternatel yproject from the cylindric shell that I incloses'the filter and thatwhich forms the heating-chamber, so that the Water which percolatesthrough the bott-om of the supply-tank sprays from plate to plate,dashing each time in a reversed direction, the exhaust-steam pipe thatfurnishes the steam* that heats the feed-Water from any adjacent engineor generator and supplies 'it through the open port 65, near the base oflthe heating-chamber, arranged so that as the hot steam ascendsitin-ltermingles With the fine spray of Water'as ,it dashes from onescatter-plate to another, the hot-well tank or basin., the semi-globulardome that surmounts the filter-chamber and lthat receives the purifiedWater from said filter, the perforated plate that intervenes betweensaid filter and said dome, the semi-globular basin 21 beneath thefilter, and the perforated plate that intervenes betvifeensaid basin andsaid filter, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.f 8. In a feed-Water heater and purifier, the vcombination of thesupplypipe, the globe valve or cock 88 in said pipe, the supply-tankprovided With a perforated bottom through which the Water percolates,the sectional cylinder 5, the heating-chamber, the cylindric shell whichincloses the filter, the scatterplates 60 Within the heating-chamber,the exhaust-steam pipe that furnishes the steam` through the openport 65of the cylinder 5*, the hot-Well tank, the semi-globular basin 2lbeneath said tank, the semi-globular dome that receives the purifiedfeed-Waterfrom the filter, the discharge-pipe that `receives said Waterfrom said dome, the suction-pipe 68, through which is drawn Water fromthe hot Well by the action of any suitable enginepump, and thereturn-pipe 70, through which said Water is forcedinto the basin 2lthrough the filter, the surmounting dome, and the discharge-pipe to itsdestination, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a feed-Water heater and purifier, the

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combination of the supply-pipe, the supplyta-nk with aperforated bottomthrough which the Water percolates, the cylinder 5, forming thel1eating-chmnber :md upholding the supply-tank, the cylindro shell 17,that inoloses the filter Within said heating-chamber, the Scatter-platesthat spray the Water as it descends through the hentingchamber, Jho

l blow-off pipe 72, globe-valve 74 in said pipe,

:md the exhausbsteam pipes 51, substantially ro as doseribechzmd for thepurpose sot forth.

GEORGE F. KNOX.

In presence of- JAMES SIMPSON, OTTO OTTESEN.

